The thirteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 13) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and third Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 3) opened on Monday morning. These were followed in the afternoon by the opening of the 27th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI 27) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA 27), as well as the resumed fourth session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG 4). Delegates considered organizational matters and began their substantive work.Photo: Incoming COP President Rachmat Witoelar with David Mwiraria, on behalf of the outgoing COP President, while UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer looks on.

Horacio Peluffo, UNFCCC Secretariat, escorts incoming COP President Witoelar to the podium (left); and President Witoelar with Mwiraria (right)

The press was out in full force for the opening of the session

COP President Rachmat Witoelar and Yvo de Boer launched a climate change commemorative stamp in honor of the conference

In his opening remarks, COP President Witoelar (left), urged delegates to begin concrete negotiations on the future of the climate regime, noting broad support for agreeing in Bali on an agenda for negotiations and for concluding talks in 2009. UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer (right) noted the responsibility of the Bali conference to deliver concrete results,
and called for: leadership in creating a new energy future; bold action in the North to fuel clean growth in the South; collective responsibility in using fossil fuels without destroying the environment; and the prioritization of adaptation.

Balinese singers perform during the opening session

Conference of the Parties (COP)

Informal consultations in the back of the room after the COP agreed to include technology transfer under both the SBSTA and SBI agendas (left).During general statements, Pakistan, for the G-77/China (right), emphasized that future action should be based on key principles stated in the Convention and Protocol. She said advancement of work under the AWG was an “absolute imperative” and proposed a legally-binding instrument on adaptation and technology transfer.

Bangladesh called attention to the impact of a recent cyclone that cost 5000 lives and called for a firm commitment to funding adaptation.

Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer with COP President Witoelar and COP Secretary Richard Kinley (left) and Halldor
Thorgeirsson, UNFCCC Secretariat, in discusssions before the convening of the afternoon COP plenary (right).

Report of the co-facilitators of the dialogue on long-term cooperative action to address climate change by enhancing implementation of the Convention; Co-facilitators Howard Bamsey, Australia, and
Sandea De Wet, South Africa,
reported on the Dialogue's four workshops and invited delegates to consider options set out in their report.

Harlan Watson, US (left),committed to advancing negotiations on a Bali roadmap, and supported formation of a working group, and a two-track approach. Mohamed Al-Sabban, Saudi Arabia (right), stated that Annex I parties are trying to make developing countries take on targets and to convert the UNFCCC into an energy convention, and
questioned the need for a contact group, arguing that the options had already been identified and could not be narrowed down.

COP/MOP

Australian delegates Howard Bamsey and Robert Owen-Jones. To enthusiastic applause, Australia announces that it will ratify the Kyoto Protocol and that Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will attend the High-level segment.

Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG)

The AWG met in an afternoon session to review the work programme, methods and schedule. Left to right: Henning Wuester, Secretariat, AWG Chair Leon Charles, Outi Berghäll, Finland, and Claudio Forner